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Pneumonia
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Plastic Materials Flashcards
Flashcards
Plastics are polymers built from repeating monomer units, and today almost all plastic raw materials come from petroleum. This flashcard set covers how common plastics like polyethylene, PVC, and polystyrene are made, why petroleum dependence is a problem, and what natural materials are being used to make plastic alternatives such as Spudware and Orangeware.
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Question
What are plastics composed of?
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Question
What are plastics composed of?
Answer
Plastics are polymers, which are macromolecules made up of many smaller repeating units called monomers.
Question
What is polyethylene derived from?
Answer
Polyethylene, used in plastic bags, is derived from the ethylene monomer.
Question
What is polystyrene derived from?
Answer
Polystyrene, used in disposable cups and plates, originates from the styrene monomer.
Question
What is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) made of?
Answer
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used in items like buckets and plastic doors, consists of vinyl chloride monomers linked together.
Question
What is the primary source for the production of all plastics?
Answer
The production of all plastics relies on petroleum.
Question
What is a major concern regarding petroleum reserves?
Answer
Petroleum is a finite resource that is projected to be depleted within several decades.
Question
What percentage of extracted petroleum is used for fuel?
Answer
A significant portion of extracted petroleum is allocated to the production of petrol and diesel fuel.
Question
Why is exploring alternative monomer sources imperative?
Answer
Exploring alternative monomer sources is imperative due to the limited global reserves of petroleum and its significant use in fuel production.
Question
What does it mean for plastics to be non-biodegradable?
Answer
Non-biodegradable means that plastics resist bacterial decomposition into simpler chemical constituents, unlike organic matter.
Question
What is a key component of potatoes that can be converted into a plastic-like substance?
Answer
Potatoes possess a substantial starch (cellulose) content that can be converted into a plastic-like substance.
Question
What are the limitations of plastic derived from potatoes?
Answer
Plastic derived from potatoes exhibits limited durability and strength.
Question
What makes potato-derived plastic suitable for single-use items?
Answer
Its susceptibility to bacterial decomposition makes it suitable for manufacturing single-use utensils.
Question
What is the trade name for plastic produced from potatoes?
Answer
Plastic derived from potatoes is marketed under the trade name 'Spudware'.
Question
What common materials are being investigated for use in circuit boards?
Answer
Composites derived from chicken feathers and soybeans are being investigated for fabricating circuit boards.
Question
What are the advantages of using chicken feather and soybean composites for circuit boards?
Answer
These composites demonstrate comparable performance to conventional plastics and offer significant cost reductions.
Question
What is the projected need for feather-bean-based circuit boards?
Answer
The proliferation of electronic devices globally will necessitate the mass production of these circuit boards.
Question
What two main ingredients are used in Orangeware production?
Answer
Orangeware is produced utilizing orange peels and carbon dioxide.
Question
What component in orange peels is responsible for their scent and can be converted into plastic?
Answer
Limonene, found in orange peels, can be converted into a useful plastic.
Question
What is the name of the plastic produced from orange peels and carbon dioxide?
Answer
The plastic produced is known as poly-limonene carbonate (PLC).
Question
What is a beneficial environmental aspect of the Orangeware manufacturing process?
Answer
The Orangeware manufacturing process is de-polluting because it removes CO2 from the atmosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plastic Materials Flashcards
What raw materials are used to make plastic?
Conventional plastics are made from petroleum, which supplies the monomers needed to build polymer chains. For example, polyethylene comes from the ethylene monomer, polystyrene from styrene, and PVC from vinyl chloride, all of which are petroleum-derived.
What natural materials are used to make plastic?
Several bio-based sources are under development as plastic raw materials. Potato starch can be converted into a biodegradable plastic sold as Spudware, orange peels contain limonene that reacts with CO2 to form poly-limonene carbonate (PLC), and composites of chicken feathers and soybeans are being investigated for circuit boards.
How plastic materials are made
Plastics are made by linking many small monomer molecules together into long polymer chains, a process called polymerization. The monomers are typically sourced from refined petroleum, though bio-based monomers such as limonene from orange peels or starch from potatoes can also be polymerized into usable plastic-like materials.
Why is petroleum a problem as a plastic industry raw material?
Petroleum is a finite resource projected to be depleted within several decades, and a large share of what is extracted already goes toward producing petrol and diesel fuel. This makes dependence on petroleum for plastics unsustainable, which is why alternative monomer sources are being actively researched.
What makes potato-based and orange peel-based plastics different from synthetic materials?
Unlike conventional synthetic plastics, these bio-based materials are susceptible to bacterial decomposition, making them biodegradable. Potato-derived Spudware suits single-use items precisely because it breaks down, while Orangeware production also removes CO2 from the atmosphere, giving it an added environmental benefit.
What materials are used to make plastic circuit boards as an alternative to conventional plastics?
Composites made from chicken feathers and soybeans are being investigated as a substitute for conventional plastic in circuit boards. These composites show comparable performance to standard plastics while offering significant cost reductions, which matters as global demand for electronic devices continues to grow.
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